Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-01
SUMNER AND UNION.
Charles Summers Effort TO obIlterate Evi.
dences OF Civil strife.

IL is not generally remembered that ar
effort on the part of Charles Sumner tc
wipe out all traces of the war crested FOL
awhile q condition of affairs similar tc
thst which is now exciting the country
On December ,, 1872, he introduced in
the United States Senate this bill:
Whereas, the national unity and good
will among fellow citizens can be assured
only through oblivion of past differences
and 1t is contrary to the usage Of civil
lied nations to psrpetuate the memory
OF civil war; therefore
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives OF the United States
in Congress assembled, that the names Of
battles with: fellow citizens shall not be
continued in the army register Or placed
on the r6gimental COlOTs of the United
States.
On December Is, 1872, Mr.. Wbitelaw
Reid, editor Of the New York Tribune,
said editoriaily IN that paper Of this bill
We Gsnt the Union and are thoroughly
sensible of its blessings and its advsn-
tages, but we do Uot want any union,
itself moral disintegrGtion, which shg!!
continue from year to yeSr to be main
tanned, not by the ties of common affec-
tion and mutual confidence, out by the
iron bands of legal authority. We want
something at least OF the generous senti-
ments which were over strOug and so
salutsry. We have had 2 family quarrel
how is the family harmony 10 be brought
back sgsin?
TIE greatest error which the north can
J ta4 into will be that of unreasonable and
/ ogerweening pride in its mere military
| successes, and it is against this that the
learned Senator from Massachu-
setts NOR. particularly desires to
5 7Fd =. All these years since the
LAST gun Of war was fred we have been
waiting for reconciliation. When it has
actually come at last-and we pray that
| 1t may come SOCn-We shall care little
| enough to parade the Sames of success
| ful bsttlehelds upon our banners. Mag
nanimlty is one OF the best qualities OF the
soldier, aid it is one ia which our own
brave fellows have not shown themselves
| deficient. Whether we are or are not be-
lieved, we must confess ourselves weary
OF this still beginning and never ending
wrangle. 1t appears to Us that rarely
noble opportunity is now offered the IL
coming administration of promoting peace
and good will amongst our citizens.
Notwithstanding this, on December Is,
1872, the Massachusetts, Legislature
passed the following resolutions remon.
strating against the passage of the bill
which provides that the names OF battles
with fellow citizens shall not be con
tinued in the army register or placed on
the regimeElal colors Of the United
States.
Resolved by the Senate and House Of
Representatives III general court assem-
bled, that
Whereas, bill has been introduced
into the Senate of the United Ststes by
Senator from Massachusetts, providing
"that the Dames OF the battles with fel-
low citizens shall not be continued in the
army register or placed on regimental
colors of the United Ststes;" and
Whereas, the passage of sUch g bill
would be an insult TO the loyal soldiery
of the nation and depreciate their grand
achievements IN the late rebellion; there
fore,
Resolved, that such legislation meets
the unqualified condemnation OF the peo-
pie of this commonwealth.
Resolved, that the Governor be re-
quested to forward TO our Senator's and
in Congress copies of
these resolutions.
These resolutions were received by
the United States Senate January 9, !
1873. They slept on the files with Mr. |
Summers bill until March 10, 1874, g /.
year aad two months and one day, when (
MIR. Boutwell,, Summers colleague, Of (
fered the following letter from the Gov /
ernor of Massachusetts, with accom- |
paHying resolutions passed by the Legis-
Iature of that state:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, COMMONWEALTH /
OF MASSACHUSETTS, |
6OSTON, March 3, 1877 ) /
Hon. George S. Boutwell,
SIR-By vote of the 9th ult., the gen.
eraI court requested me to forward to
our Senators and REPRESENTING rs in Cor
gress copies Of the resolutions passed by
the present Legislature, resembling and
anrulling the resolve passed by the Eeg-
stature in 1872 concerning the 5rm7 reg
ster and na1lonRl battlsfagS 20 gives
me pleasure 10 comply Wh tdis request,
and herewith enclose q copy of said res
OIuti0n. " B. WAsHBURN, Governor.
Senator Boutwell, and Senator Sumner
being present, then offered with the
above i6ttel the accompanying rssolu-
y, as follo,@s:
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, in
,te year 18J t.-Resolve resembling and
resolution passed December
S, 1872, relating to army register and
)sttle flags;
Received, oy the Senate and House of
2eprs sentatiges in general court as
thai the resolution passed en-
December &c, 1872, at the extra session
# the Legislature OF that year, rel4ting to
Kill introduced in the Senate of the
United States concerning the army regis
er and regimental colorS of the United
states be and hereby is rescInded and an
ulled.
The next day March II, 1874, at 2:3Q
}. M. Mr. Sumner died.